In retrospect, the preamble wasn’t unnecessarily misleading. Nor at any time did I think the clueing unfair. Still, for me this EV was one heck of a struggle. There were precious few gifts (11ac being a notable exception), but I certainly wasn’t helped by my synapses declaring a ceasefire.

2 down is a good example. The clueing is faultless, but for the longest time I just couldn’t figure out what ‘nominally red’ might mean – embarrassingly, this was the case for some time even after having found the answer.

I made an early, educated guess at ‘Ford’, recognising that this probably referred to Gerald Ford. However, despite later filling in ‘Harrison’ (making the (tiny) leap to Harrison Ford=actor) and despite knowing all of the presidents, I failed to recognise the name of the 23rd president (Benjamin Harrison split Grover Cleveland’s terms as 22nd and 24th president).

In essence, the top right and bottom left should have been all that I needed. These unclued entries read TWO OF A KIND. The thematic answers were all just this – words composed of two fish, presidents, rivers, etc. The table below details their composition.

I’m not entirely sure of how to parse 8ac (dapo?), but I’m sure you kind people will furnish me with an explanation. I’m away until Sunday evening, but when I’m back I’ll add to/correct the post based on your contributions. Thank you to nmsindy. Thank you also to Lato, whom I sadly neglected in my self-pity, for a satisfying and well-constructed brain stretch.

a type of acid: ins. {carrying} of BI(smuth) in <COIN (stamp) {around}

14

DECLAIMED

Having failed medical, man made set speech (9)

made set speech: MEDICAL* {failed} + ED (man)

16

RHONE

About to eat sweetie in gutter (5)

gutter (Scots): ins. {to eat} of HON (sweetie) in RE (about)

18

UPS

Raises prince in country (3)

raises: ins. of P(rince) in US (country)

21

TRAPPED

Unable to escape from Thailand, got along well (7)

unable to escape: T(hailand) + RAPPED (got along well)

24

ELOPS

Picked up second rod for fish (5)

fish: <S(econd) + POLE (rod) {picked up}

26

ARNUTS

Plants at Balmoral all turn out special (6)

plants {at Balmoral=Scottish}: A(ll) + TURN* {out} + S(pecial)

30

MUTE

Silent corporation upset earl (4)

silent: <TUM (corporation) {upset} + E(arl)

31

ALOD

American lawman’s first to clean up estate (4)

estate: A(merican) + L(awman) {first} <DO (to clean) {up}

32

ENEW

Energy restored, plunge into water (4)

plunge into water (falconry): E(nergy) + NEW (restored)

33

IRK

Marginal reading in bible about to cause distress (3)

to cause distress: <K’RI (marginal reading in (the Hebrew) bible (intended as a substitute for the k’thibh))

34

RAI

Endlessly attack N African music (3)

N African music: RAId (attack) {endlessly}

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 31st, 2010 at 12:00 am and is filed under Enigmatic Variations.
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